Marbut: South County needs shelter for homeless families

Published: Monday, November 25, 2013 at 12:09 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 25, 2013 at 12:09 p.m.

VENICE - When homelessness expert Robert Marbut examined Sarasota County, he discovered a study in contrasts.

North County, especially the city of Sarasota, sees the bulk of homeless individuals — about 85 percent of them.

In South County, however, most of the homeless are families with children. And Marbut wants them to be in a separate shelter and receive separate services than those he recommends for single homeless people.

Roughly half or more of the nearly 350 homeless families with children in Sarasota County are in South County, shifting back and forth mainly between Englewood and North Port.

They comprise the bulk of the homeless south of Blackburn Point and tend to be single mothers with children. The women moved their families to South County because rents were more affordable than in Sarasota.

But these families' incomes plummeted when the mothers split from their children's fathers. Meanwhile rents rose 7 percent last year, putting more single mom households at greater risk of not making ends meet.

Marbut, hired to devise a countywide strategy for combating homelessness, presented those findings Monday to the County Commission, Venice City Council, North Port City Commission and a crowd of about 200, including representatives of law enforcement and nonprofit agencies.

Marbut praised the people of Sarasota County as "caring" but chastised them for "enabling" vagrancy by giving handouts.

"You've got to put the brain with the heart," Marbut said.

Marbut wants the Sheriff's Office to be the lead agency for a 24-hour emergency shelter in Sarasota for homeless adults without children.

St. David's Episcopal Church in Englewood, which operates a cold night shelter and has outreach programs for homeless and low-income families, could be the lead agency in South County.

Satellite "intake portals" could also be at North Port Human Services and Gulf Coast Community Foundation in Venice. At these portals, social workers would interview homeless people and help them find shelter and other help.

The church suggests a vacant apartment complex on a cul-de-sac in the 300 block of North Elm Street in Englewood for a "South County Family Village," which would house parents and children. The location is within five blocks of an elementary school, a park and a pre-kindergarten center.

Yet at least 29 nearby residents signed a petition against using the building for a shelter.

"People who live in this area are 100 percent against doing this," Elm Street resident John Rich said.

Marbut said other sites could be considered. Whatever location is chosen for a family shelter should "improve the quality of the neighborhood" so nearby property owners do not object, he said.

North Port City Commissioner Cheryl Cook said discouraging "street feeding" may encounter difficulties with religious organizations. "Some religious groups use this time to witness," Cook said.

Those faith-based organizations need to be brought into the countywide strategy so they do not unintentionally block it, Marbut said. "You need to make this a big tent."

North Port City Commissioner Linda Yates expressed concerns that some single mothers may be fearful of seeking help because they are "afraid of the state taking their children away."

If word spreads among the homeless population of a program that improves the lives of homeless mothers and children and keeps them together, those concerns will be dispelled, Marbut said.

Although Marbut said most homeless mothers with children do not have problems with drugs or alcohol and many may be working one or more jobs, North Port Mayor Jim Blucher said any family shelter would have to separate out those that do need drug counseling and such services.

Venice City Council member Jeanette Gates said Marbut's plan needs more of a "tie-in with the school system."

Marbut said the YMCA could be a resource as well, especially with latchkey kids whose mothers work and with children not old enough to be enrolled in school.

EARLIER: Roughly half or more of the nearly 350 homeless families with children in Sarasota County are in South County, shifting back and forth mainly between Englewood and North Port.

They comprise the bulk of the homeless south of Blackburn Point and tend to be single mothers with children. The women moved their families to South County because rents were more affordable than in Sarasota, where 85 percent of the county's 1,460 homeless individuals can be found.

Yet these families' incomes plummeted when the mothers split from their children's fathers. Meanwhile rents rose 7 percent last year, putting more single mom households at greater risk of not making ends meet.

Homelessness expert Robert Marbut, hired to devise a Sarasota County strategy for combatting homelessness, presented those findings this morning to the County Commission, Venice City Council, North Port City Commission and a crowd of about 200, including representatives of law enforcement and nonprofit agencies.

The elected officials unanimously supported Marbut's plan.

A session at 2 p.m. today in County Commission chambers in Sarasota will focus on North County data and issues.

Marbut praised the people of Sarasota County as "caring" but chastised them for "enabling" vagrancy by giving handouts.

"You've got to put the brain with the heart," Marbut said.

Marbut wants the Sheriff's Office to be the lead agency for a 24-hour emergency shelter in Sarasota for homeless adults without children.

St. David's Episcopal Church in Englewood, which operates a cold night shelter known as the Jubilee Center and has outreach programs for homeless and low-income families, could be the lead agency in South County.

Satellite "intake portals" could also be at North Port Human Services and Gulf Coast Community Foundation in Venice.

The church suggests a vacant apartment complex on a cul-de-sac in the 300 block of North Elm Street in Englewood for a "South County Family Village," which would house parents and children. The location is within five blocks of an elementary school, a park and a pre-kindergarten center.

Yet at least 29 nearby residents signed a petition against using the building for a shelter.

"People who live in this area are 100 percent against doing this," Elm Street resident John Rich said.

Marbut said other sites could be considered and that whatever location is chosen for a family shelter should "improve the quality of the neighborhood" so nearby property owners do not object.

North Port City Commissioner Cheryl Cook said discouraging "street feeding" may encounter difficulties with religious organizations. "Some religious groups use this time to witness," Cook said.

Those faith-based organizations need to be brought into the countywide strategy so they do not unintentionally block it, Marbut said. "You need to make this a big tent."

North Port City Commissioner Linda Yates expressed concerns that some single mothers may be fearful of seeking help because they are "afraid of the state taking their children away."

If word spreads among the homeless population of a program that improves the lives of homeless mothers and children and keeps them together, those concerns will be dispelled, Marbut said.

Although Marbut said most homeless mothers with children do not have problems with drugs or alcohol and many may be working one or more jobs, North Port Mayor Jim Blucher said any family shelter would have to separate out those that do need drug counseling and such services.

Venice City Council member Jeanette Gates said Marbut's plan needs more of a "tie-in with the school system."

Marbut said the YMCA could be a resource as well, especially with latchkey kids whose mothers work and with children not old enough to be enrolled in school.

<p><em>VENICE</em> - When homelessness expert Robert Marbut examined Sarasota County, he discovered a study in contrasts.</p><p>North County, especially the city of Sarasota, sees the bulk of homeless individuals — about 85 percent of them.</p><p>In South County, however, most of the homeless are families with children. And Marbut wants them to be in a separate shelter and receive separate services than those he recommends for single homeless people.</p><p>Roughly half or more of the nearly 350 homeless families with children in Sarasota County are in South County, shifting back and forth mainly between Englewood and North Port.</p><p>They comprise the bulk of the homeless south of Blackburn Point and tend to be single mothers with children. The women moved their families to South County because rents were more affordable than in Sarasota.</p><p>But these families' incomes plummeted when the mothers split from their children's fathers. Meanwhile rents rose 7 percent last year, putting more single mom households at greater risk of not making ends meet.</p><p>Marbut, hired to devise a countywide strategy for combating homelessness, presented those findings Monday to the County Commission, Venice City Council, North Port City Commission and a crowd of about 200, including representatives of law enforcement and nonprofit agencies.</p><p>The elected officials unanimously supported Marbut's plan to significantly reduce South County's homeless population.</p><p>Marbut praised the people of Sarasota County as "caring" but chastised them for "enabling" vagrancy by giving handouts.</p><p>"You've got to put the brain with the heart," Marbut said.</p><p>Marbut wants the Sheriff's Office to be the lead agency for a 24-hour emergency shelter in Sarasota for homeless adults without children.</p><p>St. David's Episcopal Church in Englewood, which operates a cold night shelter and has outreach programs for homeless and low-income families, could be the lead agency in South County.</p><p>Satellite "intake portals" could also be at North Port Human Services and Gulf Coast Community Foundation in Venice. At these portals, social workers would interview homeless people and help them find shelter and other help.</p><p>The church suggests a vacant apartment complex on a cul-de-sac in the 300 block of North Elm Street in Englewood for a "South County Family Village," which would house parents and children. The location is within five blocks of an elementary school, a park and a pre-kindergarten center.</p><p>Yet at least 29 nearby residents signed a petition against using the building for a shelter.</p><p>"People who live in this area are 100 percent against doing this," Elm Street resident John Rich said.</p><p>Marbut said other sites could be considered. Whatever location is chosen for a family shelter should "improve the quality of the neighborhood" so nearby property owners do not object, he said.</p><p>North Port City Commissioner Cheryl Cook said discouraging "street feeding" may encounter difficulties with religious organizations. "Some religious groups use this time to witness," Cook said.</p><p>Those faith-based organizations need to be brought into the countywide strategy so they do not unintentionally block it, Marbut said. "You need to make this a big tent."</p><p>North Port City Commissioner Linda Yates expressed concerns that some single mothers may be fearful of seeking help because they are "afraid of the state taking their children away."</p><p>If word spreads among the homeless population of a program that improves the lives of homeless mothers and children and keeps them together, those concerns will be dispelled, Marbut said.</p><p>Although Marbut said most homeless mothers with children do not have problems with drugs or alcohol and many may be working one or more jobs, North Port Mayor Jim Blucher said any family shelter would have to separate out those that do need drug counseling and such services.</p><p>Venice City Council member Jeanette Gates said Marbut's plan needs more of a "tie-in with the school system."</p><p>Marbut said the YMCA could be a resource as well, especially with latchkey kids whose mothers work and with children not old enough to be enrolled in school.</p><p>EARLIER: Roughly half or more of the nearly 350 homeless families with children in Sarasota County are in South County, shifting back and forth mainly between Englewood and North Port.</p><p>They comprise the bulk of the homeless south of Blackburn Point and tend to be single mothers with children. The women moved their families to South County because rents were more affordable than in Sarasota, where 85 percent of the county's 1,460 homeless individuals can be found.</p><p>Yet these families' incomes plummeted when the mothers split from their children's fathers. Meanwhile rents rose 7 percent last year, putting more single mom households at greater risk of not making ends meet.</p><p>Homelessness expert Robert Marbut, hired to devise a Sarasota County strategy for combatting homelessness, presented those findings this morning to the County Commission, Venice City Council, North Port City Commission and a crowd of about 200, including representatives of law enforcement and nonprofit agencies.</p><p>The elected officials unanimously supported Marbut's plan.</p><p>A session at 2 p.m. today in County Commission chambers in Sarasota will focus on North County data and issues.</p><p>Marbut praised the people of Sarasota County as "caring" but chastised them for "enabling" vagrancy by giving handouts.</p><p>"You've got to put the brain with the heart," Marbut said.</p><p>Marbut wants the Sheriff's Office to be the lead agency for a 24-hour emergency shelter in Sarasota for homeless adults without children.</p><p>St. David's Episcopal Church in Englewood, which operates a cold night shelter known as the Jubilee Center and has outreach programs for homeless and low-income families, could be the lead agency in South County.</p><p>Satellite "intake portals" could also be at North Port Human Services and Gulf Coast Community Foundation in Venice.</p><p>The church suggests a vacant apartment complex on a cul-de-sac in the 300 block of North Elm Street in Englewood for a "South County Family Village," which would house parents and children. The location is within five blocks of an elementary school, a park and a pre-kindergarten center.</p><p>Yet at least 29 nearby residents signed a petition against using the building for a shelter.</p><p>"People who live in this area are 100 percent against doing this," Elm Street resident John Rich said.</p><p>Marbut said other sites could be considered and that whatever location is chosen for a family shelter should "improve the quality of the neighborhood" so nearby property owners do not object.</p><p>North Port City Commissioner Cheryl Cook said discouraging "street feeding" may encounter difficulties with religious organizations. "Some religious groups use this time to witness," Cook said.</p><p>Those faith-based organizations need to be brought into the countywide strategy so they do not unintentionally block it, Marbut said. "You need to make this a big tent."</p><p>North Port City Commissioner Linda Yates expressed concerns that some single mothers may be fearful of seeking help because they are "afraid of the state taking their children away."</p><p>If word spreads among the homeless population of a program that improves the lives of homeless mothers and children and keeps them together, those concerns will be dispelled, Marbut said.</p><p>Although Marbut said most homeless mothers with children do not have problems with drugs or alcohol and many may be working one or more jobs, North Port Mayor Jim Blucher said any family shelter would have to separate out those that do need drug counseling and such services.</p><p>Venice City Council member Jeanette Gates said Marbut's plan needs more of a "tie-in with the school system."</p><p>Marbut said the YMCA could be a resource as well, especially with latchkey kids whose mothers work and with children not old enough to be enrolled in school.</p>